Slab cabinet doors without battens?

I'm building some cabinets which need large slab hickory doors. I'm
matching some existing cabinets so I must use the slab design. I know about
the problems associated with expansion, distortion, etc. as my whole kitchen
uses slabs. I've fought through the expansion issues using hinges that
adjust enough to allow for seasonal differences. The existing doors use two
battens on the backside for stability. It's a pain but "you know who"
likes the design so that's what we're going to use.
Anyway, back to the problem at hand. The cabinets will be approximately 60
wide x 36 high. To maximize the size of the opening, I'm just using one
partition down the center. This makes the doors about 28 x 36. I want to
fold each door in the middle so they are manageable. The problem is, if I
hinge each door in the middle, I can't install battens on the backside for
stability. They will get in the way when I try to fold up the door. Do you
think I need to stabilize a door which is about 14 x 36? I can use narrow
pieces, alternating grain orientation, etc. to help stabilize. I will
finish both side to prevent warping. I cannot use a breadboard design
because it won't look good with the other pieces. Any other ways to prevent
warp that keeps the backside flush? I haven't found any hinges that would
accomodate the battens. I'm not opposed to some sort of steel reinforcement
if that would do the trick.
Thanks

you
Not knowing your design, I would be tempted to use two doors per opening
with no intermediate stile ... that way you could use battens if you
anticipate a problem. This is quite common.
Whatever you decide upon, one thing to consider is to choose your grain
orientation carefully, using pieces with the grain running as close to
perpendicular to the face as you can find. IME, most likely to cause
problems is flat sawn stock, least likely is quarter or rift sawn.
YMMV ...

Have you considered cutting and inserting a spline into the top and bottom
edges of the doors? I did this once, instead of making breadboard ends, to
keep a board flat (flatter than it would have been without it). You can only
glue the center of the spline because it suffers the same cross grain
problem as a breadboard edge, but it won't show on the front or the back and
it will significantly help with cupping problems.

--
Charley

"Steve" <steve_remove snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com> wrote in message

I think the spline is a good idea. I'm particularly concerned about
cupping. Maybe I could run a couple stopped dados across each door and then
screw in a hardwood batten the depth of the dado (allowing for expansion of
course)? With the right hinge I could probably even have the batten stand a
little proud of the surface.
Thanks,
Steve

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